Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-20
POLITICAL CHIPMUNKS.
THE FRlSkY FELLOWS LEAP
INTO FAME IN A NIGHT.

NEW YORK, Feb. 19.-The Republican
Club of this city is an association of
bright young fellows almost unknown in
political circles. They are witty, we'll
dressed, and imbued with an active party
spirit. They are the frisky chipmunks OF
local politics, who lie dormant in cold
weather, and who skip along worn fences
and bound over stone walls when autumn
comes and nuts are falling. On FEB. II
the club was asleep, but on the next day
1t awoke to find itself famous. 1t mad
celebrated Abraham Lincoln's birthday
by giving the most memorable dinner
recorded in the history OF the party. The
festive glories of the Union League Club
were wiped out in a night. Tne spruce
young fellows had walked INTO proml-
nence over the heads OF the purse-proud
patricians, who fancy their organization
the backbone of Republicanism in this
city. Their success astonlshed every
body, but themselves the most. At
bound the club had proved itself worthy
of entering the list with the noted lroquois
Club of Chicago. The most celebrated
Republican Notwithstanding the one with
the white plume-were there, armed cap
a-pie, and brandishing their weapons.
SSpch an array ought to have brought out
anu InC UON hICh1 w say
notbN of the trumpeters. The walls
were covered with gonfalons and banner
cts, but Johnny O'Brien, Barney Biglin,
Johnny Davenport, stephen b. French,
Fred Gibbs, Mike Cregan, Shed Sheek,
Henry A. Barnum, Charlie Spencer, and
othupof the old guard, who have battled
so often and so bravely against desperate
odds, were made conspicuous by their
absence. The only real fighting centuri-
ons among the $50 persons at the tables
were Jake Hess. Sol Smith, Jim Halves,
John Jaoobus, Cornell van Colt, Billy
lTownley, and George b. Deane. All the
lOthers were dress-parade soldiers-men
who shirk the heat, dust, blood and
sstrife Of the conflict, but who are APP
parently ever ready to assist in reaping
The spoils of victory.
1t was a great dinner, however, and
great in more respects than one. 1t was
the first dinner of the kind in New York
for years where stars of equal magnitude
shone with equal glory. For once there
was more than one Chauncey Depew at
the table. Chauncey has been called an
intellectual Altaire. Aldebaran shone in
this constellation In the person OF Joe
Rawley, Frank HiscOck gave as steady
light as Alcyone. Ben Harrison sparkled
like Algel, Oglesby twinkled like Vega,
and Henry Cabot Lodge resembled Sirius
In the dog days. The brightest twinkle OF
all, however, was Gov. Foraker, of Ono.
His intellectual brilliancy recalled the
gIories of the lost star in CassiOpla. No
political Tycho Brahe could observe its
radiance without exhibiting breathless
Interest. Astronomers throughout the
country are already casting its orbit and
speculating as to its fate. Foraker really
evoked an enthusiasm rivaled only by
that exercised by Henry w. Grady at the
New England dinner.
Prisms of pure wit made his trenchant
logic and superb eloquence iridescent.
The effect was intensified by his swapping
eyes, graceful gestures and resonant
voice. The applause was spontaneous
and unrestrained. Napkins were
waved, and every hit was greeted with
unbounded enthusiasm. After Foraker
came Harrison. His address drew re-
peated encomiums, but it lacked the pro-
portion and symmetry of its predeces-
eor.
After Harrison came Chauncey De-
pew. He was lucky in being two pegs
away from the Governor of Ohio, and he
was, as usual, unlucky in having his
best thrusts and stories mangled next
day by either the reporters or editors.
Depow's speech stood in marked con-
trast TO that oil Frank Hlscock, which
was grave anu dignified. and sounded
like a prearranged echo from the United
States senate chamber.
rip-roaring, old.fashloned, brass
mounted address was that OF Gov. Ogles-
by. of Illinois. Uncle Dick wore big
spectacles and an antiquated brOadcloth
suit. His bald head glistened as he be-
came warmed with the fervor of his elo-
uuence. He pounded the table until the
glasses jingled again and again. Then
he began to NOW a Swatn to his left. He
grew 80 demonstrative that he forced Joe
Hawley, Gov. Lounsbury. Chauncey De-
new. Senator Aldrich and Speaker Hustled
back TO the wall to escape the sweep
of his arms. AS one after another fell
back. the guests screamed with laughter.
At first Uncle Dick seemed to think them
delighted with his quaint Western way of
= talking, but when even Jimmy Hustled
turned tail and hurricane OF merriment
BILLED the effect of a blizzard OF elo-
euenca che old General "tumbled to the
racket.v and thereafter held himself with
In bounds.
Henry Cabot Lodges remarks were as
coldly classic as some of George Will
liam Curtis efforts. He did not seem to
svmpathize with Joe Hawley's assaults
on the man who killed Blaine. He seemed
glad to have escaped the fate OF the prodi-
gal son, however. Employment as a
swineherd is hardly in his line, and he was
evidently looking for a iatted calf After
abusing the administration and COM
planning OF its manner OF dealing out the
fodder, he squatted once more IN the fam
ifr-ocker, with 1olueu arms ana placid
fa69, animated by faint applause.
This dinner was made all the more re-
markaDle by the presence of many great
men who were not invited to speak.
Among them were ex-Govs. Foster, of
Ohio, Cornell, OF New York; Thomas
e. Piatt, Gov. Beaver. OF Pennsylvania;
WhiteIaw Reid, VIM. NJ. Evarts, Moan
Davis, stephen Is. Elkins, Elihu Root,
James Arkell, John A. Sleigner, Geo. ii 4.
Sharpe, Stewart l.. Woodtord and Levi
NJ. Bates. The applause over the read.
ing of letter from James G. Blaine was
deafening, but not 80 great as that which
greeted ForakePs address.
Again l say that IL was great dinner,
but neither as great nor as memorable as
it would have been II Roscoe Conkling
and Robert q. Ingersoll had been present.
And both were in the city.
ii. g.
The death OF Larry O'Brien caused more